LSAT Score Improvement

I just wanted to pose a question (which I'm sure has been asked a million times) as to how much you all were able to improve your LSAT scores from your first practice test to the real deal.

I finally made, and solidified the decision to attend law school, and decided it was time to begin prepping.Tonight, I took my first "cold" test, without any preparation. I scored a 149. I realize this is not a score that will get me into Law School.

My question to you all, is what was your first score, and how much did you improve over the months between that test and the true LSAT? I'm shooting for no less than a 170 on my final LSAT Exam.

I just wanted to pose a question (which I'm sure has been asked a million times) as to how much you all were able to improve your LSAT scores from your first practice test to the real deal.

I finally made, and solidified the decision to attend law school, and decided it was time to begin prepping.Tonight, I took my first "cold" test, without any preparation. I scored a 149. I realize this is not a score that will get me into Law School.

My question to you all, is what was your first score, and how much did you improve over the months between that test and the true LSAT? I'm shooting for no less than a 170 on my final LSAT Exam.

Let me start with the short, simple, easy-to-understand answer to your question. If you scored a 149 on your first practice test, then you will not score a 170 on your final LSAT exam. I would bet significant amounts of money on that. Now, allow me to provide the longer answer.

Is it possible? Sure, anything is *possible*. It is possible that you will win the powerball lottery tomorrow. But this type of thinking is a common fallacy with 0Ls (people before they go to Law School)- it's the old, "95% of incoming students think they will finish in the top 10% of the class."

A 170, percentile ranked, is over the 97th percentile. Which means that to score that, you are doing better than over 97% of all people taking the LSAT. Now, remember that this isn't the population at large- it's the test takers. The majority of people taking the LSAT are type-As, driven, did well in UG, and believe that getting an "A" in a class is their right as a human being.

The LSAT is, theoretically, an aptitude test. Does that mean that preparation doesn't matter? No. You can learn basic skills (how to take tests, how to manage your time, how the LSAT is scored). Certain sections (the analytical reasoning/logic games section) can see improvement by learning some techniques in dealing with a class of problems. But there are limits - because it's not like one of those AP tests, where you can just study the information and regurgitate it.

Circling back, you can improve. You will. But if 149 was your actual score on your first exam, then it would be unrealistic to believe that you will score a 170 with practice. But it's not impossible- just unlikely. And your improvement will also depend on what you are weakest at- reading comprehension tends to be hard to improve at, logic games can improve with practice.

It could also be that your first diagnostic wasn't representative of your ability.

This is problematic thinking. Don't go into the LSAT with a preconceived minimum score in mind, it's just not the way the test works. You could study for ten hours a day, seven days a week for a yera and still not score 170. The LSAT is not a test that allows everyone to achieve a 170 as long as they put in the blood, sweat and tears.

As Loki stated, it tests aptitude. That means, to put it in the simplest possible terms, you either have a 170 inside you or you don't.

Can you improve your score from 149? Absolutely! I would be willing to almost guarantee that your score will go up. The LSAT is a test that you can learn and improve upon, but with limitations. Is it even possible to go from a cold diagnostic of 149 to a real score of 170? Yes, but it's highly unlikely. T

hat's why it doesn't make sense to say "I'm shooting for no less than a 170". It's like saying "I'm shooting for no less than the NBA". Don't put that unnecessary pressure on yourself. I have a friend who scored 174, and I think that even his diagnostic was something like 165.

The best thing is to take a prep course (if possible), put in serious, dedicated study time, give youself every possible advantage, and shoot for the best possible score. Maybe it will be 175, maybe it will be 155. Either way, it will be the best score that you are capable of getting.